Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 06/12/2000

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
As early as 1992 and 1993, Dr. Joan Cummings, then-director of the Hines Hospital in Illinois, attempted to relocate the Blind Rehabilitation Center to an inappropriate environment for rehabilitating the blind. In her rush to do just that, she made a statement in her report that, by the year 2005, the Center would be uninhabitable due to not meeting safety code and standards. Then-VA Secretary Jesse Brown also said that by the year 2000, the Center would be uninhabitable. Since the relocation was rescinded due to the support by you and other veterans, Dr. Cummings, now VISN Director, has been very slow and reluctant to deal with the actual problem. Since 1995, we went through three different planning groups. The first one was disbanded by Dr. Cummings. The second effort, initiated by then-Medical Center Director DeNardo, engaged an architect to study the facility's space needs. The architectural consultants ascertained that the best option was to build a new independent facility for the Blind Rehab Center at Hines Hospital. Funds for advance planning were scheduled for 2001. More disillusionment ensued when, in the spring of 2000, we were told the plan was File 13d. Now the new plan from the VISN Director is to combine the Spinal Cord, Brain Injured, and Blind Rehabilitation Centers into a single new facility for funding purposes. Appealing though this may seem, experience demonstrates it would be inappropriate to do this when each of these programs requires an environment indigenous to its own regimen. To date, blinded veterans have been frustrated with prolonged series of unfulfilled promises and delaying tactics. 

In my opinion, blinded veterans have been getting the shaft since 1992. The constant changing and abandonment of plans initiated by the Midwest VISN Director have been a great source of frustration to our veterans. The V.A. should investigate this matter and ensure that blinded veterans' needs are met through the construction of a new separate facility as initially planned. 

Concerned in the welfare of blinded veterans,
Paul A. Mons, N.S.O.
Department of Illinois Military Order of the Purple Heart

Dear Paul:
Congress should also look into Ms. Cummings' folly. Over the years, this bureaucratic boob has been unfriendly to the needs of blinded veterans. Under the Clinton-Gore administration, services to blinded veterans have diminished and the only solution to improving these services is to centralize the program under Blind Rehab at the D.V.A head shed. And ... Cummings should go.

Shaft Kudos
The Sarge is looking forward to joining the Blinded American Veterans Foundation, Rep. Joe Moakley (D-MA), and their guests at the 15th annual congressional awards reception on Tuesday, June 13, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in room 334 of the Cannon House Office Building. The annual event, held in conjunction with the Foundation's Flag Day observance, honors Senators, members of the U.S. House of Representatives, the media, and volunteers.

The recipients of the 2000 George "Buck" Gillispie Congressional Award for Meritorious Service are Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA). The award is named in honor of the late "Buck" Gillispie, a blinded World War II veteran who devoted more than 40 years of service toward efforts to aid in rehabilitation of visually impaired veterans.

The Carlton Sherwood Media Award, named in honor of the Pulitzer and Peabody Award-winning journalist and highly decorated USMC Vietnam veteran, will be presented to Henry Allen, a staff writer at the Washington Post, and national talk show host Jim Bohannon.

This year's recipient of the George Alexander Memorial Award for Volunteer Service are Mr. and Mrs. Jan and Denise Broucinek, long-time volunteers at the BAVF. The Foundation's Corporate Award will be presented to Pitney Bowes.

On display at this year's BAVF event will be the Universal Access Copier System developed by Pitney Bowes. This unique voice command copier has many features that give greater copier access to all with disabilities.

The Marine Corps Color Guard will set the stage for the awards ceremony and the Corps' Brass Quintet will entertain guests with a medley of patriotic music. 

Since 1996, congressional Flag Day celebrations have become a cherished tradition on Capitol Hill. This year's celebration, honoring the flag and U.S. veterans, will take place on Wednesday, June 14, from 12:30-2:00 p.m. in the Cannon Caucus Room (Room 345), Cannon House Office Building. The House and Senate Prayer group sponsors the program. This year's theme, "If You Pass Through Waters," stresses national healing and unity in the face of this year's political polarization. Tipper Gore is Honorary Patron. Admission is free.

This is the 50th anniversary of the signing of Flag Day into law by President Truman. It is also the 25th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. The program includes special recognition of U.S. veterans. Adrian Cronauer, popular DJ of "Good Morning Vietnam" and Susan Dentzer of the Lehrer News Hour will co-host the program.

The Sarge is looking forward to attending the June 14 performance of Dr. Victor S. Wahby and his talented VA-National Medical Music Group, from 12:30-2:00 p.m. in Room 345, Cannon House Office Building. This free patriotic performance, open to the public, includes Irish Tenor John McDermott singing the new "Veteran's Hymn," Congressman David Phelps performing Sen. Orrin Hatch's song, "I Love Old Glory," Mezzo Soprano Margie Johnson, and Gospel singer Wintley Phipps. The musical doctors and nurses of the VA-National Medical Musical Group, under the direction of founder Dr. Wahby, lead the audience in their unique "La-la-ing" of Sousa's "Stars and Stripes." Several Senators and Representatives will deliver patriotic readings.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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